LENNIE Lawrence insists the biggest single factor in whether Cardiff City are successful this season is how their young players adjust to First Division football.

Goalkeeper Neil Alexander, Robert Earnshaw and Rhys Weston have not played in Division One before, while Danny Gabbidon and Andy Campbell have limited experience at West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough respectively.

"We need one or two players in, of course we do," said City manager Lawrence, who is hoping to add to his squad next week.

"But the biggest single factor in what happens is how our young players adjust to life at the higher level.

"We won't be building a new team and our young players now have the chance to show what they can do."

Skipper Graham Kavanagh, back in Division One five years after being relegated with Stoke, will be a key figure and he has been looking exceptionally sharp during pre-season matches.

A year ago Kavanagh returned still suffering from City's play-off failure and it showed. The exact opposite is now true.

The Irishman is talking with enthusiasm about the Bluebirds' chances in the coming season and continued training during his family holiday in Spain.

The result, from the evidence of pre-season matches, is a revitalised Kavanagh who will make an impact for the Bluebirds in Division One.

Danny Gabbidon and Tony Vidmar team up in the middle of the back four, while Earnshaw and Campbell lead the attack.

"We've done plenty of work with them and Campbell, in particular, is growing in confidence," said Lawrence. "His winning goal against Charlton will help in that respect.

"He's not here as an understudy to Robert Earnshaw and he mustn't think that. Both have a big job for Cardiff City this season, even after Peter Thorne returns from injury.

"They look sharp. We wondered whether they were comfortable together, but they showed at Cheltenham and against Charlton what they can do. I have no fears about the team going out against Rotherham."

Lawrence has had a pre-match boost with midfield player Gareth Whalley reporting fit and returning to training.

He will not be ready to start at Rotherham, but he is likely to be among the substitutes.

"Gareth is naturally fit and he will travel," said Lawrence, who has also named trainee striker Stuart Fleetwood in the squad.

The Bluebirds take on a Rotherham team who have stayed in Division One for the last two seasons despite their limited resources and Lawrence said: "Ronnie Moore did a fantastic job last season and they were in the top half of the table virtually all year. It was only right at the end they slipped up a little.

"It was a great performance with the resources he has.

"But we have to make sure it is Cardiff City who get off to a good start."

Lawrence will add Polish international defender Tomasz Klos to his squad next week - he could even make his debut at home to Leyton Orient in the Carling Cup on Tuesday - once his work permit has been agreed.

Australian trialist Daniel McBreen has been released by City, while it seems highly unlikely they will follow up interest in Swedish international Jesper Ljung.

There is, though, a good chance Dutchman Nordin Wooter will be offered a short-term contract.